An online journal of Mannie Gentile, a National Park Service Park Ranger working on the National Mall in our nation's capital.
DISCLAIMER: please note that this blog represents only my views and not those of the National Park Service.
Feel free to email me at: museumofamerica@myactv.net

Friday, March 23, 2012

My how time flies when you're having fun. I just realized that this is my 700th post to this blog. Thanks to those who find it somewhat useful.

And speaking of which, the July Civil War Times has historian Gary Gallagher making some insightful comments on Civil War blogs. He also demonstrates that he can take criticism with an admirable equanimity. And that's kind of refreshing.

Note the magazine has yet another article on one of the most over-rated Civil War participants (pictured on the front cover) and one of my favorite Civil War historians (not to mention good friend, fellow ranger, and blogger) John Hoptak on the back cover.

Please indulge me a pet peeve:

Throwing around the nicknames of Civil War generals is no substitute for actual scholarship. Know what I mean?

Saturday, March 17, 2012

A friend asked me to fabricate some missing pieces for her 1930s folk-art bungalow.

This looked like the perfect project to both kick off the shop season and to distract me from my homework; a win-win as they say.

Originally assembled with tiny brads, many of the components of this house were loose or missing entirely.

Using scrap wood, I first fabricated the missing railing and post.

Once assembled, as a component, it was glued and clamped into place.

This was followed by tackling the missing chimneys. By ripping a small piece of stock, I matched the dimensions of the chimneys based upon the pattern left in the paint by the originals. I cut the resulting pieces at a 20-degree angle to match the pitch of the roof (fine tuning done on my sanding wheel). Chimney caps, modeled off the one larger, original chimney, were cut and then beveled on my sanding wheel. Everything got glued and clamped into place.

Aside from these major components, two smaller issues were taken care of; the cutting and shaping of a missing piece of window frame,

and the replacement of a small piece of missing wood on the front wall.

Once primed and painted, this will be up to the standards of those cool kit homes sold by Sears in the1920s and 30s.

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Wednesday, March 07, 2012

This morning was a perfect time to follow the spring which appears in the Mumma swale and slowly makes its way to the pond down at the Roulette Farm. The journey doesn't end there however as the water eventually goes swirling and gurgling down a mysterious sinkhole.

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I'm a Park Ranger on the National Mall in Washington DC. I'm very proud and fortunate to be working at such a significant place and to be sharing this magnificent resource with visitors from around the world.

About Mannie

I'm fortunate to have married the love of my life. In that, I am a very lucky fellow. Otherwise I live in Washington County in western Maryland in a little house on the shoulder of South Mountain.
Other stuff from me here: http://manniesartimitateslife.blogspot.com/